The Carolina Panthers recovered a fumble on the first play of overtime, then kicked a field to beat the New York Giants 20-17 Sunday in Munich, Germany.
Buoyed by beer and John Denver’s “Country Roads,” the crowd in Germany seemed content with the game. But it was a tough watch from the football side — a sluggish matchup between two 2-7 teams who struggled to move the ball downfield.
It was a relatively slow first half, but the Panthers struck first, with quarterback Bryce Young throwing to tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders for a touchdown in the first quarter. Carolina added a field goal to start the second quarter. On the very next drive, Giants kicker Graham Gano missed a 43-yard field goal that would have made it a one-score game.
The Giants finally got a real chance to score, getting into the red zone late in the second half, but Daniel Jones threw a costly pick that bounced off the helmet of linebacker Jadeveon Clowney.
New York came out a bit stronger after halftime, scoring a touchdown on the first play of the second half to cut the deficit down to three. Carolina quickly responded, moving the ball 80 yards down the field for another touchdown.
The Giants opened the final frame with another touchdown, with Jones running 2 yards into the end zone for the score. New York’s good luck continued, recovering a Carolina fumble to get the ball back with eight minutes remaining in the game; however, the hot streak quickly evaporated as Jones threw another interception, picked off by Panthers linebacker Josey Jewell. Despite getting the ball back, Carolina was forced to punt after three ineffective downs.
With 10 seconds left, Gano redeemed himself, making a field goal to tie things up at 17 and send the game to overtime.
Overtime got off to a tough start for New York, with Carolina forcing a fumble and recovering the ball on the Giants' first play of the extra session. All Carolina needed was a field goal, and the Panthers got it, with Eddy Pineiro nailing a 36-yard kick and ending the game. The Panthers won, 20-17 and move to 3-7 on the season.
The NFL plans to return to Germany next year, along with several other countries. For the Germans’ sake, hopefully the league will send a better matchup.
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Liz Roscher
Panthers win 20-17 on field goal
The Panthers have now won two in a row. It's Bryce Young's first back-to-back win as a professional starter. The Giants, on the other hand, have lost five straight.
On the very first play of their first possession of overtime, the Giants fumble. The Panthers recover the ball, and all they need now is a field goal to win. They're on the New York 23-yard line.
Daniel Jones has two minutes and 23 seconds to score a TD to win or get close enough so kicker Graham Gano can get it between the uprights (instead of missing his second kick of the day).
Panthers lead 17-14. A field goal would tie the game and likely force overtime.
Liz Roscher
The tables are *not* turning, Panthers intercept Giants
Just a few plays after the Giants recovered a fumble, QB Daniel Jones throws an interception. The Panthers have the ball back now and will try to regain their two-possession lead.
Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard went down awkwardly on one leg after a tackle, and let the ball go as he was taken down. The Giants recovered the fumble and could manage to take the lead (or tie it) on this possession.
The Giants were closer to the end zone than they'd been all game when Jadaveon Clowney batted a Daniel Jones pass, which was then caught by a Panthers defender. Red zone turnover.
.@Panthers gets a red zone interception to keep the shutout alive
Brian Daboll losing it on sideline after that third and 1 flea-flicker. Wan'Dale Robinson was wide open coming across the field. Daboll went and slapped Robinson's hand as he came off the field.
The early reviews are in for Bryce Young in this start, and thus far he's getting great notices.
That’s an encouraging drive if you’re a Panthers fan. Young skill guys contributing all over the place. Line blocking their butts off. Bryce playmaking in the red area. Fun!
The Giants didn't look great on that last drive...
Embarrassing drive for the Giants' defense. The perimeter just got shredded in the run game. Deonte Banks showed no interest in setting the edge on Chuba Hubbard's 26-yard run on third-and-1.
Chuba Hubbard, who reminds some on the Panthers coaching staff of a young Marshawn Lynch when he came over to the Seahawks, got paid last week when he signed a four-year contact extension.
It took him just a few minutes during today's game to show exactly why.
Brian Burns sacks old QB in first big play for Giants
Linebacker Brian Burns was traded last week from the Panthers to the Giants, which he told NFL Network "surprised" him. But now he's convinced he's exactly where he needs to be, and proved it on one of the first few plays of the game by sacking his old QB Bryce Young.
